About the Assessor

“The mission of the Ramsey County Assessor’s Office is the accurate and equitable valuation and classification of all real and taxable personal property located in Ramsey County.”

“The Assessor’s office staff will maintain accurate property records, strive for excellence, and will work to create an open and trusting professional relationship with the taxpayers we serve.”

Duties of the Assessor

Estimates Value - The law specifically requires that assessors view each parcel of real estate to appraise its market value. Property values change continuously with changing economic conditions. In addition to market changes, numerous physical changes affect the value of land and buildings. All factors are considered in estimating the value of property. This requires physical inspection of all property subject to assessment.

Classifies Property - The assessor also determines the classification or use of each parcel. For instance, property may be residential homestead (owner-occupied), residential non-homestead, agricultural, or commercial. Each classification is taxed at a different percentage of market value. These percentages are set by the State Legislature.

Every January 2, market values are determined

Assessors must view each piece of real estate at least once every five years to assess its market value

Property values change with changing market conditions

Physical changes may have an effect on the value of land and buildings

Classify each parcel by its use, such as residential homestead (owner-occupied), residential non-homestead, agricultural, commercial, etc. Each class is taxed at a different percent of market value.

Finally the role of the Assessor is to gather the data to allow property taxes to be spread equitably amongst all property owners in the county. Assessors take this role seriously and endeavor to ensure as much uniformity in property taxes as statutes allow.

Appraiser Credentials, Duties and Training

Credentials

Appraisers employed by the Ramsey County Assessor’s Office are professionals, with stringent training and experience requirements set by the State Board of Assessors. All county appraisers hold a professional designation of one of the following:

Appraisers participate in mass residential appraisals by viewing physical characteristics of buildings and land. They properly classify residential structures to recognize construction qualities, as well as determine age of structures and measure their depreciation. Appraisers study construction, sales data, and neighborhood trends to establish valuation benchmarks for mass appraisal work. They perform residential appraisals for abatements and valuation reviews using cost, market, and income approaches to value. Land valuation studies conducted by Appraisers are used to develop land valuation models. Appraisers classify land and property to meet assessment standards and determine if property meets requirements to qualify for special assessment classifications. Appraisers record residential appraisal data, perform routine assessment duties, make divisions of property, process change orders, record values on assessment runs or on field records and answer taxpayer questions and inquiries.

Training

All staff participate in on-going professional education covering appraisal, Minnesota Statutes, technical training and customer service. Ramsey County encourages additional training in the areas of management and organization.